My Town Hustle: Recent Episodes
Jared Perry, Sam Tuten, & Bret Allphin
My Town Hustle is an in-depth look at the people, policies, and processes that make small-towns work. Focusing on trends in urbanism and creative economies, My Town Hustle explores the ideas that make our communities special.
Wait, what? What happened? Where have you guys been? Contrary to popular belief we aren’t dead, but we have experienced lots of changes in the past few months. We’ve been all over the place, but we’re back now. Hear what’s new with the My Town Hustlers, and what we’ve got planned for the future. Thanks for sticking with us and stay tuned for new episodes coming soon. (Don’t worry, plenty of 10,000-foot views and painting with a broad brush to go around.)
Who’s on it?Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
Jared Perry
RecordedOctober 2022
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
What is gentrification? What does it look like? Is it happening here? Where is it happening? In this episode, we’ll discuss the history and origins of gentrification and offer some definitions, examples, and thoughts on how communities address equity in development (or redevelopment) so that everyone benefits. As you’ll hear, we all know what the tropes of gentrification are, but the actual circumstances are often much more difficult to observe. In case you missed them, hot takes and fun banter are included at no extra cost.
Who’s on it?Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
Jared Perry
RecordedApril 2022
ResourcesAPA – California Northern Chapter – Gentrification – March 2019
StrongTowns – ‘What does “Gentrification” Really Mean?’ – August 2017
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Parking! Minimums! Can you feel the excitement!!!! In all honesty, this is an important topic and one of the key areas of local policy that communities can modify to support small businesses and the general business environment. With Black Friday and Small Business Saturday in our recent memory, and similar events becoming more significant retail opportunities for downtowns, the time to think about parking is NOW. There’s no doubt that most folks still access our downtowns using personal vehicles, so how can we rethink how we utilize our precious space to park the vehicles we need. Our friends at StrongTowns have a few ideas, Jared has a few ideas, and Sam gives us a new entertaining segment to close out the episode.
RecordedNovember 2021
Resources
APA – October 2018 – ‘People Over Parking’
StrongTowns – ‘How to Build a Parking Garage’
StrongTowns – Parking Mandates Map
Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
With the recent passage of the federal infrastructure bill, broadband is once again at the forefront of the conversation. While this topic has never been far from the front page in rural communities, additional funding provided through recent legislation has rekindled many discussions around how to provide access to the highest need and most difficult to serve communities. In this conversation, we discuss a 2017 short documentary entitled ‘Do Not Pass Go’ by Hyrax Films which details the challenges two small communities in North Carolina faced in establishing a municipal broadband network. We feel this documentary is important as many communities may be left facing similar circumstances in the near future if existing service providers cannot (or choose not to) provide service to local communities.
Who’s on it?Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedNovember 2021
ResourcesDo Not Pass Go – Hyrax Films - Vimeo
Greenlight Community Broadband
Connecting Appalachia
BroadbandOhio
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Election Day 2021! Both Sam and Bret were running for local office (school board and city council respectively), and this was our honest conversation about the election experience on the most anxious and tense day of the year! In this episode, we give an honest perspective on what it was like conducting a campaign, how it compared to expectations, what kinds of feedback folks provided, and other questions that aspiring local candidates should be thinking about. (Spoiler alert: Both Sam and Bret were successful in their efforts!)
Who’s on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedNovember 2021
Resources
Washington County Board of Elections – Nov. 2, 2021 Election Results
Ohio Secretary of State – 2021 Candidate Requirement Guide
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunesand Spotify
Sometimes, you get to meet your heroes. In this week's episode of My Town Hustle, we are excited to share our interview with Chuck Marohn, the Founder and President of Strong Towns, and the author of the new book ‘Confessions of a Recovering Engineer’- released in September 2021. In our conversation, we discuss the transportation challenges identified in Chuck’s new book, ideas around how we can begin to address those challenges in our communities, and many more topics covered by the biggest Minnesota Twins fan to ever appear on our show. Our thanks to Chuck for spending time with us and being a critical advocate for these issues that impact communities across the nation. Don’t forget – you can watch the video of this interview in its entirety by checking out our YouTube channel.
Who’s on it?Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
Chuck Marohn - Founder & President of Strong Towns.
RecordedOctober 2021
ResourcesStrongTowns
Confessions of a Recovering Engineer
My Town Hustle - YouTube
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Can you see me now? How about now? As part of our effort to evolve My Town Hustle to the next level – we’re making the podcast a video show! We’ll still have the podcast for you to enjoy as you always have. Now you’ll just be able to see our faces. If you want to. (You definitely want to.)
Be sure to tune in for our interview with Chuck Marohn from StrongTowns!
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedOctober 2021
ResourcesMy Town Hustle – YouTube
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
My Town Hustle is just over a year old! In celebration of this, we wanted to look back at our first year and reflect on our experience and share what we’ve learned. Perhaps most importantly, we have a new studio, new equipment, new sounds (‘talk to me goose…’), new hot takes, and a new commitment to keep the show going and growing in the future. We’ve got an exciting interview coming up that will launch us well into Year 2 and we’re excited to bring our listeners along for the ride!
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedAugust 2021
Resources
Strong Towns
‘Confessions of a Recovering Engineer’ – Chuck Marohn – Available September 8, 2021.
WestSB – More People
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Infrastructure is often hailed as the key to our future economic success. While there is absolutely no doubt that it is critically important, are we giving enough consideration to the long-term costs of infrastructure projects in our communities? Are we targeting returns that provide actual dollars invested in our communities or tangible cost savings to stakeholders? Or are we targeting something else? We will cover all these items and more as they are discussed in Chapter 4 of the book, 'Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity' by Charles Marohn Jr. This is a follow-up to Episode 35, where we introduced the book and its concepts to our listeners.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedJuly 2021
Resources
Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity by Charles Marohn Jr.
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Rural communities, especially those in Appalachia are filled with legacy industrial sites that remain from our collective industrial past. Often these facilities remain vacant, consuming valuable space in our communities, hoping for a future that despite every opportunity, has never come. In this episode, we will talk about one such site in our town, and how we can (and should) pull the plug on the outdated thinking that keeps us unrealistically holding on to these properties when we should be focusing on what is pushing our communities forward.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedJune 2021
Resources
‘A Property’s Past: Remington Kardex’ – Michael Kelly, Marietta Times
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
With so many issues demanding our attention, it is often difficult to decide between what’s important and what is relevant to our daily lives. As community advocates and stakeholders this is also true as we work to understand which issues we should be spending our time, energy, and effort on. In this episode, we will recount a recent conversation where this very question came up, and we discuss how easy it is to get tied up in issues that ultimately don’t directly impact our daily lives and overlook the most relevant concerns.
Who’s on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
Recorded
June 2021
Resources
The Great Game of Business
Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Many communities recognize that there aren’t as many folks around town as there used to be. Why is that? In this episode, we will talk about a fascinating series of articles published in 2020 on www.westsb.com called “More People.” The articles focus on how the population of South Bend, Indiana fell by 50,000 people in 50 years. We’ll be talking about if any of the lessons learned from South Bend can apply to rural communities, especially those in Appalachia. If this hasn’t exactly happened in our community yet, what steps can we take to avoid it? Hot takes, quips, and laughter included.
Who's on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
Recorded
May 2021
Resources
West.SB - A New Read on South Bend
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
It’s the remix! DORA legislation successfully passed in Marietta in late April 2021. In this episode, Sam and Bret give updates and lessons learned on the DORA process since we last talked about it on Episode 2 in July 2020. We will give five key points that we have learned through the community engagement process that other communities should be thinking about as they create their DORA programming. If you aren't in Ohio, listen and learn more about Ohio's Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area as a model on how to get this creative economic tool for your downtown. Moderately hot takes are included as always.
Who's on it?Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedMay 2021
ResourcesDORA at the Banks - Cincinnati
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Photo provided by City of Hamilton, Ohio
Transportation is a key challenge facing all aspects of daily life for citizens, especially for folks living in rural communities. On this episode, Sam and Bret give their ideas about how new technologies could improve transportation options in rural communities. Bret also gives our listeners a preview of comments he’ll be delivering at an upcoming transportation panel on the topic. Don't worry, Jared will be back next week to herd all the cats that were turned loose on this episode.
Who’s on it?Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedApril 2021
Resources
Energy News Network Article – Maine and Obstacles to EV Adoption
DriveOhio – Automated Driving Systems Project
PAVE Workshop – Preparing Ohio for the Autonomous Future
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Everyone fails! Failing is an important part of learning and improving. This is just as true for individuals and private businesses as it is for governments. On this episode, we’ll talk about some of the stereotypes and fears that hold our governments back from trying the new and innovative ideas that residents may be demanding. We’ll be highlighting a recent report from the Centre for Public Impact that provides details on why governments must fail forward to succeed. Hot takes and storytimes included as always.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedApril 2021
ResourcesCentre for Public Impact – Governments Must Fail Forward to Succeed.
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
We support public employees of all types – some of us have been public employees! We also know that a reimagining of some public positions could help our small communities prosper and become increasingly resilient. In this episode, we will introduce the book ‘Strongtowns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity’ by Charles Marohn Jr.’ We will take a look at three key positions – City Engineer, City Planner, and Economic Development – and discuss how the Strongtowns approach re-envisions those positions.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedApril 2021
Resources
Strong Towns – www.strongtowns.org
Link to the Strong Towns Book - https://www.strongtowns.org/book
204 Front Street – Street View (Switch between 2007 and 2019 to see the transformation of the building.)
Wealthworks - https://www.wealthworks.org/
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Is there enough public space or seating in the downtown you love to visit? Have you ever wondered how a community could quickly (and cheaply) implement more outdoor seating? A parklet may be for you! Join us as we discuss a pop-up parklet we built in conjunction with a local Main Street first Friday event in April 2021. We’ll talk about what we did, how we did it, and how you could do something similar in your town. The lesson from this episode is – find a way to try out your ideas!
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedApril 2021
Resources
My Town Hustle Insights Blog
Great examples of how to design and build more substantial parklets.
San Francisco Parklet Program
Seattle Parklet Handbook - the program details are intense but provides excellent parklet design specifications.
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Investing in the quality of our places is perhaps more important now than ever before. Creating communities where people want to live, work, and have fun is challenging. Doing this effectively in rural communities is. In this episode, we each offer an idea about an area of focus that can help you get started on this journey. We also threw in a few free sports references, and hot takes from an unlikely source.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedMarch 2021
Resourceshttps://www.smartcitiesdive.com/ex/sustainablecitiescollective/benefits-placemaking-go-beyond-urban-beautification/240971/
https://theroyaltourblog.com/2018/03/05/urban-beautification/
https://www.pps.org/article/5-steps-to-making-places
https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/four-types-placemaking
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Photo Credit for Episode Artwork!
Marietta Main Street
In March the American Rescue Plan was passed and signed by President Biden, providing over $360 billion in relief funding and programming in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we talk about what this funding means for rural communities, how it can be used, important program timelines, and considerations that local stakeholders should be analyzing as this funding becomes available. We’ll also give a brief overview of previous stimulus and relief packages and how those differ from the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan. Hot takes and fun facts included as always!
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedMarch 2021
ResourcesAmerican Rescue Plan Text:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319/text
National Association of Counties – State and Local Recovery Funds:
https://www.naco.org/resources/featured/state-and-local-coronavirus-fiscal-recovery-funds.
National Association of Counties – ARP Update Slides (great detail):
https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/event_attachments/MembershipCall_MAR112021.pdf
United States Conference of Mayors – American Rescue Plan Overview:
https://www.usmayors.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/USCM-American-Rescue-Plan-Overview.pdf
Economic Development Administration – Awarded $3 billion in additional funding for grant-making and programming:
https://www.eda.gov/
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Photo Credit for Episode Artwork!
Justin Cron on Unsplash
Preemption, huh? What happens when local regulations conflict with state statutes? What about when state laws conflict with federal regulations? To what lengths can local officials go in creating policy that best serves local communities? Our special guest Adam Schwendeman from Theisen & Brock law firm talks with us about the concept of preemption, and how this concept impacts local communities when it comes to implementing policies. Preemption is an example of a topic that makes us more passionate about our local communities. Sometimes, it can be a double-edged sword for local control but to fully understand it, we'll dive briefly back into the start of the United States. If you have never heard of this concept and how it may impact local communities, listen in to learn more!
Who’s on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
Adam Schwendeman, a lawyer for Theisen & Brock in Marietta, Ohio.
RecordedMarch 2021
ResourcesState by State Analysis of Preemption by the National League of Cities
Preemption Laws in the State of Ohio by Giffords Law Center
An article by the BarJournal of State Preemption in Ohio about Fracking
Info on the Supremacy Clause & the Doctrine of Preemption
State of Ohio passes ban on Plastic Bag Ban
Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Rural communities in Ohio and their citizens (and everywhere) have long been declared medically underserved. One of the key indicators where rural communities are underserved is mental health. This challenge is not only an obstacle to public health, but it is an obstacle to our continued and successful community development. We welcome Janice McFarland, Executive Director of the Life and Purpose Community Resource Center, located in Marietta Ohio, to talk with us about the challenges our communities face and what we can do to be proactive against them.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
Janice McFarland, Executive Director of Life and Purpose Community Resource Center
RecordedMarch 2021
Resources
https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/
State and county health rankings as determined by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Life and Purpose Community Resource Center (Facebook)
Life and Purpose Behavioral Health
Agency website - Take Action square is an online portal to submit information for a new patient appointment.
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Have you ever been to a public meeting? Have you hosted one? What was it like? Could it have been better? In this episode, Sam and Bret share their experiences attending and hosting public meetings. We’ll also offer some ideas on how they could be better for practitioners and more meaningful for the folks that you are seeking feedback from. Also, bonus ‘Storytime with Bret’ and an unanticipated (and surprisingly in-depth) discussion about roundabouts in southeastern Ohio.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedMarch 2021
ResourcesAlbum art photo courtesy of Marietta Main Street: www.mariettamainstreet.org.
(Taken during the public engagement phase of the Enrich Marietta downtown planning effort, December 2019. www.enrichmarietta.com.)
Aside from traditional methods, communities have utilized online engagement platforms like MindMixer (www.mindmixer.com) and Metro Quest (www.metroquest.com) to facilitate public engagement. There are many others, these are just examples.
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
What assets exist in your community? Are you capitalizing on those assets? Are you seeking realistic opportunities for development? Is your current development strategy sustainable? Does it build local wealth or local control? Where are we spending most of our energy? Are we ignoring what makes us special? All these questions! Tune in as we discuss these topics and give you an introduction to asset-based development and how it is impacting rural communities across the country.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedFebruary 2021
Resources
Asset-Based Community Development Toolkit
Wealthworks
Rural Action - (Shout out to all the fine folks at Rural Action working hard in Southeastern Ohio.)
https://buckeyehills.org/redi - USDA Sponsored planning effort was undertaken in partnership with the University of Purdue and the University of Kentucky. (See this doc for the data on the number of businesses in the region under 100 employees.)
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
In this episode, we will be reacting to an episode of ‘Growing Up Poor in America’ produced by PBS Frontline and released in September 2020, which focuses on three families facing the challenges of being underprivileged in Ohio. This episode features three families, two of which are local to the Mid-Ohio Valley. We will discuss the situations portrayed in the film, and discuss the challenges these and countless other families face while also trying to respond to the added challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedOctober 2020 & February 2021
ResourcesPBS Frontline – ‘Growing Up Poor in America’ – Episode 3 – September 8, 2020.
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
In this episode, we do a short 30-minute consulting session on addressing a pedestrian safety issue in your town. We’ll talk about the data available to help you understand the conditions, how to make sensible comparisons to similar areas, and what programs and resources might be available to help you address the issue. We also talk about approaches that communities can take to test out countermeasures before committing to a large project.
Who's on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
Recorded
January 2021
Resources
Ohio Transportation Information | ODOT TIMS (state.oh.us)
Ohio Department of Transportation – Transportation Information Mapping System (TIMS)
GCAT | ODOT TIMS (state.oh.us)
Ohio Department of Transportation – GIS Crash Analysis Tool (GCAT) REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO ACCESS
Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Many rural communities today find themselves caught in the ‘digital divide’: insufficient investment and deployment of highspeed telecommunication services have lead to other community challenges including access to education, healthcare, and other public services. In this episode, we will talk about recent research that reflects the state of broadband in Appalachian Ohio. Why don’t we have broadband in many areas? What would it take to get it? How can we deploy it in new areas? How could we pay for it? Who can help us? We will be touching on all these issues, and more!
Who's on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
Recorded
January 2021
Resources
Research and policy items referenced in this discussion.
FCC Broadband Map.
Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) - FCC Auction 904 – Major funding program we discuss in the episode.
RDOF results map showing bidders and service offering.
RDOF Deployment timelines for winning bidders. (If your area of interest was selected by a bidder, this gives you an idea of when to expect service to comply with FCC requirements. Exact schedule determined by the bidder themselves.)
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
What is the brain drain? Is it happening here? Is it real? Hot takes only! In this episode, we talk about the challenges smaller communities face in providing opportunities to young people, what leads folks to find opportunities elsewhere when the time comes and other realities. How does the ‘boomerang’ concept play into this discussion of career opportunities and community development? Tune in to find out!
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedJanuary 2021
Resourceshttps://bb2careers.org/ (Building Bridges to Careers – Connecting Education to Community and Careers)
https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/2019/4/losing-our-minds-brain-drain-across-the-united-states (Interesting data, interactive maps, VERY LONG READ)
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Housing Affordability? Affordable Housing? Are those the same thing? They are not! In this episode, we talk about how local communities and specifically local governments can impact housing issues (or not), how much folks spend on housing, and how various types of housing is perceived. We’ll be referring to recent efforts around expanding housing, revising zoning, and related public policy discussions across the country. Also, hot takes on the family home as the key, and sometimes the only asset many families possess. Plus, our BIG announcement – right off the bat!
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedJanuary 2021
Resourceshttps://streets.mn/2018/07/30/two-perspectives-on-the-housing-crisis-affordable-housing-vs-housing-affordability/
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
From the fellas at My Town Hustle, we wish you all a Happy Holiday, no matter what you celebrate as we end this crazy year. We hope you all are staying safe, healthy, and looking forward to a new year. This episode is very simple, we are sending holiday cheer and we wanted you to know that we will be back in 2021 for Season 2!
If you have any questions for us or what to reach out about a particular topic, hit us up at support@mytownhustle.com
Thank you to all of our listeners and we are so excited to come back in 2021.
Amazonification, ever heard of it? Or Accessory Commerical Units? Well, check it out, another Idea Session is here. On the last Idea Session, Bret wasn't there but now he is, and we get to hear his ideas on bringing back accessory commercial districts in our towns. We are feeding off our last Idea Session more as we discuss the possibility of putting small commercial pockets back within our residential areas. Redeveloping our residential districts to accommodate all needs. We discuss the importance of shopping local & small, especially during a pandemic, and avoiding the big box stores, and getting away from the importance of driving to get your goods, moving away from the Amazonification of shopping, and pushing for more commercial pockets in our neighborhoods. As we adventure away from the discussion of accessory commercial districts, we discuss the hidden power that smaller communities have, and here at My Town Hustle, we firmly believe that our smaller communities have the power and the will to make changes, move forward, and do not and should not wait for the outsider to come in and save them. Rethink your environment for the future, bring back the importance of you and not the importance of your car.
Who’s on it?Sam Tuten
Jared Perry
Bret Allphin
RecordedNovember 2020
Resources'Accessory Commercial Units' for a 15-Minute City
Coronavirus is Speeding Up the Amazonification of the Planet
Image of Building in Marietta, Ohio in the middle of residential calling for a new life.
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Have you ever wondered how a school levy works? Have you passed one in your community? Has one failed in your community? In this episode, we discuss the financial implications of a school levy. Before we can do that, we will spend a few minutes defining what a levy is, who has the authority to place a levy, how it is connected to property taxes, and perhaps the biggest question of all – what the heck is a mill? Once we have an understanding of what a levy is, why should you vote for a levy? Why do folks vote against levies? What types of levies have success in small rural communities? We also give personal examples of levies that are active in our community, what the funding is being used for, and how you can find the same information for your own properties if you are interested. We close the episode by speaking about how property taxes and levy funds have been a topic of intense debate in the State of Ohio since 1997 when a supreme court case ruled that the public-school funding mechanism in Ohio is unconstitutional.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedNovember 2020
ResourcesMill Levy - Investopedia
Property Tax Definition - Investopedia
DeRolph v. State – 1997 - Wikipedia
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout Out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Does your community have a Port Authority? Better yet, does your community have an Economic Development agency that is working for your city or your county? Well, here in the State of Ohio, a port authority is a political subdivision formed by a local government - county, township, municipality, or combination thereof. They provide economic development benefits to a community. Yes, they can, do, and have managed various types of transportation facilities but for example, they also have the power to purchase, sell, or lease property, and can be used for general obligation bonds. As this economic development tool and because they have tax-exempt status, port authorities have the advantage of passing savings onto projects. Port Authorities are able to get themselves into a variety of economic development projects, such as public improvement projects, industrial parks, and of course, creative financing opportunities for businesses. Tune into this week's episode as we host Jesse Roush, the Executive Director of the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority located right here in the same building we produce these amazing episodes for you, our listeners. Southeastern Ohio Port Authority serves Washington County, Ohio. We ask Jesse about his organization, what they can do, what are some challenges, but more importantly, we wanted you to know that these types of organizations exist and people like Jesse, are here to help.
Who’s on it?Sam Tuten
Jared Perry
Bret Allphin
Jesse Roush, Executive Director of Southeastern Ohio Port Authority
RecordedOctober 2020
ResourcesSoutheastern Ohio Port Authority - Washington County Economic Development
LinkedIn of Jesse Roush
County Commissioners Association of Ohio
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Trash, you don't think about it until you are walking around town looking for a trash can. You also never really think about what goes into collecting that trash until you see it overflowing. In this week's episode, we'll explore two purviews of trash. One, trash cans throughout the town, can there be too many cans? How can it be managed by your local trash hauler or city? What new technologies are out there to notify your hauler that a can is full? Second, should cities be worried about dumpsters, and what are the outcomes of a lot of them in your alleys? Cities abroad and here in the United States have moved to underground dumpsters or trash compactors to consolidate trash collection. Smaller cities with bigger needs may not be worried about trash but here at My Town Hustle, we always advocate for smart planning and cities should explore the ways that their trash is being collected from both the residential and commercial side.
Who’s on it?Sam Tuten
Jared Perry
RecordedOctober 2020
ResourcesUnderground Dumpster by Underground Refuse Systems
Smarter Waste Management systems by Ecube Labs
Recycling Eco-Stations in Phoenix, AZ
Underground Dumpsters in Kissimmee, FL
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Here at My Town Hustle, we love ideas, we love talking about them and exploring how those ideas could work in our own community. Tune in to this week's episode to learn more about some ideas that both Jared and Sam are passionate about. Bret is out this week but the guys at My Town Hustle plan to continue having Idea sessions. Other not all ideas are new, we wanted to create a space where ideas can be shared, a space where those ideas can grow or learn, and in the end, provide you, the listener, with a concept that you would love to implement in your own town. Jared's goal would be for a community to strive for becoming the most kid-friendly community in the State and Nationally. How would you get that down? How does that apply to all types of development and policies in your community? Sam would love to see communities focus on alley redevelopment and revitalizing small neighborhood hubs through zoning reform. What needs to change for that to happen? Listen in and don't forget to check out some resources below to help you get these ideas moving in your community.
Who’s on it?Sam Tuten
Jared Perry
RecordedOctober 2020
ResourcesA Guide to Value Added Alleys for Small Towns & Cities by UNC School of Government
Child-Friendly Cities Initiative
10 Things that make a City, Child-Friendly
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify
Have you thought about going into the public sector? Do you have a desire to help your community or you are interested in local, state, or federal government? Well, in this week's episode, Bret and Sam will discuss their own journeys to becoming public servants. What their experience has been like, how has it changed, what school was like, and so much more. We are missing Jared this week as he and his wife, Alaina have welcomed a new baby into their home. Join us this week to learn more about what it is like, why it is important, and who we feel should be in these roles. More importantly, we want our listeners to know that this field is powerful and provides so much good.
Who’s on it?Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedOctober 2020
ResourcesNASPAA or the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration
ASPA or the American Society for Public Administration
ICMA or International City/County Management Association
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
Do you live just outside the city? Do you live in a community that was formed like the City of Eagleton in Parks and Rec because they left a city like Pawnee to make something better? Are you missing out on an essential service because of where you live? Well, in this week’s episode, we’ll go over annexation. Annexation is the legal process in which municipalities can grow their boundaries into areas in which are not already incorporated into that particular municipality. Now, there are a lot of pros and cons which we’ll discuss in the episode like increase taxes or access to public utilities but one aspect that we look into is, should cities be wanting to grow? Do they have the resources to expand and offer more of their services to neighboring communities? Annexation in smaller rural areas versus bigger cities is different but why should cities limit themselves from growth, especially if there is an opportunity for new development or available land outside the city, which is more of the case in smaller rural areas. Although we discuss the process within the State of Ohio, every state is different but all annexations are a long process so be prepared and hopefully, if you are a city official, you are looking at growing your tax base and all the services that you provide.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedSeptember 2020
ResourcesOhio State Bar Association Information about Annexation
County Commissioners Association of Ohio’s Commissioners Annexation Manual
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
CDBG or otherwise known as Community Development Block Grants. Most communities have it but what exactly is it? Most people might know it because either their community uses those funds for sidewalk improvements or use them to help low-to-moderate income homes with improvements. Better yet, your community might use them for both. In this week’s episode, we’ll take a look at what CDBG is, why was it established, does reform need to happen?, and what we feel communities should be using these funds for. Each State administers this block grant to local communities differently and can have different or the same programs as other states, depending on their needs. Although we have only started the dig on what CDBG really is, the three of us can agree that there are small and large needs that communities can use these funds for but do you know what those projects are? Do you know that you have a voice in those projects or better yet, do you know what programs your community offers?
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedAugust 2020
ResourcesCDBG Information via HUD Exchange
City of Parkersburg, WV Programs – Great Example of CDBG Funds being used locally for a community with a population under 50,000.
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
To Mitch Loughton with the City of Norwalk, Ohio for our first fan mail over the summer.
TIFs. Tax Increment Financing. What is that? Well, most developers or city planners are familiar with TIFs. TIFs are just one way to incentivize development in your community. This week, we explore how TIFS are typically used in Small Towns, and from our experience, they are used in a way that goes against what they were originally intended for. Most cities go after the big box retailers with new infrastructure which creates your “typical” on the border commercial district. When a TIF district is established, it is used to subsidize redevelopment or other infrastructure projects by diverting future property tax increases based on the redevelopment and is used to help pay off bonds or other costs of the project. We discuss rather or not this is the best way for small communities to incentivize development and should they be looking at other methods? Small Towns are always looking for the “next” big thing but why can’t these TIFs be used for current infrastructure like your downtown? Why not, right?
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
RecordedSeptember 2020
CreditsEpisode Artwork from Southeast Missourian
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
Thinking about running for office? Well, in this week’s episode, we explore the different positions in local government. We dive into those positions as they stand in the great State of Ohio but these positions are also found throughout local governments in the United States. Are people running to serve their community or are they running so they can have a job? Being an elected official is hard work and when you are voting on one, it is important to be informed about what their goals are, what their vision is for your community, and what kind of legislation they will advocate for. Also, it is important to know what officials have the responsibility to appoint administration staff. City officials are one aspect of a government running efficiently but what about the non-election positions. City officials should also be well informed and understand the potential and limitations of their staff and any legislation change could have an impact on their ability to run efficiently.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
Recorded
September 2020
Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
GIS? What is it? Well, it stands for Geographic Information System and you can find it almost everywhere now. GIS is a great tool that provides the ability to capture, store, and display data spatially. It is way more than a pretty map, as it helps planners, public officials, and governmental organizations make decisions based on spatial patterns and relationships of data. If you wanted to know how many Maple Trees were in your neighborhood, you would have to go out and collect that data and place it geographically in GIS and now you will know how many Maple Trees are on your street. Just google COVID19 and you will find links and links to data and maps that show the COVID19 pandemic. Listen in to this episode as we discuss how we get data, how data is collected, and how it is used to tell a story through the power of GIS.
Who’s on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
ResourcesCOVID19 Data Maps for reference to GIS in the news from Johns Hopkins University of Medicine
Census & American Community Survey Data
How to Lie with Maps by Mark Monmonier (Book)
esri / ArcGIS
Ohio Data – OGRIP
Ohio URISA
Recorded
August 2020
Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
Do you live in a historical district? Do you consider your community either historic or charming? Well, listen in to this week’s episode as we talk about Architectural Review Boards. ARBs are established through local ordinance as a historical preservation tool for historic districts either commercial or residential. If you own property within these districts that are governed by a historic preservation ordinance than you know that you have to go before a board before you make changes to your property. We discuss why ARBs are designed to protect the buildings, not the people. The My Town Hustle team also talks about the word “historic” and the difficulties of determining what is considered “historic” in a community. Do you pick 1890 or 1940? If your community is considering a historic preservation ordinance, open dialogue about how you want to preserve those districts is key!
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
ResourcesMarietta, Ohio Historic District
Dublin, Ohio ARB
Julia-Ann Square Historic District
Recorded
August 2020
Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
Have you ever been to a new town and didn’t know where to go? Are you even familiar with where public parking lots are in your own town? Well, wayfinding can help with how you get from Point A to Point B. It makes sense at an airport but why is it important in your downtown? In this week’s episode, we are talking about something as simple as a sign. Too many can get messy and too little won’t help. We make decisions based on visual cues so why not help citizens and tourists alike navigate your community. It seems like a funny topic to talk about but trust us when we tell you how much can go into wayfinding and although you may know where you are going sometimes, it is important to view your town as a tourist.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
ResourcesUrban Wayfinding Planning & Implementation Manual by Sign Research Foundation
Sign Research Foundation
2018 Economic Impact of Tourism in the Appalachian Region of Ohio Report from Ohio’s Appalachian Country
Ohio’s Appalachian Country
The Image of the City by Kevin Lynch
Recorded
August 2020
Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
Main Street Programs? Do you have one in your community? Well, we here at My Town Hustle enjoy our local Main Street program. From one of us being a Board Member to the other being the previous Director, we couldn’t be more thrilled to have our first guest on the show. Cristie Thomas with Marietta Main Street joined us to go over all things Main Street. Main Street Programs function to revitalize historic commercial districts and strive to build a new vibrant community in those districts. From hosting events, working alongside property owners/developers, to drafting legislation, they can do it all. Did you know that these groups are behind the smallest of acts like hanging flowers in town but did you know that those flowers can make an economic contribution to your community? Main Street Programs fight to save your downtowns, so please tune in to learn more, learn how you can give back to your downtown, and how these programs bring people together.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
Cristie Thomas – Executive Director of Marietta Main Street
ResourcesMarietta Main Street
Marietta Main Street Facebook Page
Heritage Ohio
Main Street America
RecordedAugust 2020
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
Does your city have a plan for the future? Have they spent some time with you, the public, on what that might look like or what your concerns are? Well, in this week’s episode, we are going to talk about Comprehensive Planning. We go over why we think it is important, why citizens should be involved in the process, and why all public officials should use it as the guiding principle for all their decisions. Comprehensive Planning is important for the future growth of your community. Sometimes Comprehensive Planning can suggest big changes or even pretty radical ones that may be unpopular but the most important part is that this process includes the public, it includes the people who actually live, work, or play in your community.
Who’s on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
ResourcesThe Importance of Implementable Comprehensive Planning
Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Plan Hamilton Comprehensive Plan – Hamilton, Ohio
Recorded
July 2020
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
Did you know there are different kinds of local government for your town? Turns out, there is! Whether you have a statutory local government or a charter local government can change the operations and procedures of “how things get done” in your hometown. The distinction between the two often occur around a town’s stance on a particular issue but, is only ~really~ limited by general law at the state level. This episode focuses on the differences between the two forms of government along with the pros and cons of each.
Who’s on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
ResourcesKnox Pages Case Study on Charter Government
Ohio Municipal League
City of Athens, Ohio
Recorded
July 2020
Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
When you are walking down your favorite street or through the main drag of your downtown, you probably aren’t thinking, “Wow, this street is not complete”, unless you are a planner or understand what a Complete Street is. Well, it is simple, Complete Streets is a transportation policy that has reshaped, redrawn, or reconstructed our city streets from vehicle focused to all types of ways we get around. This design approach is for everyone, no matter the mode of transportation that you prefer. In this week’s episode, we will quickly go over the concept of Complete Streets as this policy is different for every community. The main “drive” of this “Complete Streets” movement is more than becoming less focused on vehicles but how all modes including driving can be safer. We will discuss “Parklets” which is just one design that adds value to Complete Streets, it creates a new public place and can be an awesome tool for placemaking in your community, especially if you have limited outdoor seating. Jared is passionate about getting a “Parklet” in front of his building, so listen in to learn more from us, laugh, and hopefully walk away with a desire to advocate for safer streets in your community.
Who's on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
ResourcesWhat are Complete Streets? by Smart Growth America
National Complete Streets Coalition
U.S. Department of Transportation
RecordedJuly 2020
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
ZONES!!! In this week's episode, we'll explore Zoning in our communities. Zoning dates back to the earliest twentieth century and is still applied to communities today. Although zoning laws and regulations have played both a negative or positive role in our communities, Form-Based Zoning is one tool that city leaders are using to re-imagine their communities and moving away from the separation of uses. Zoning plays such an important part in how and why our cities look the way they do but do you know how it applies to you? Do you know some of the differences between a Planning Commission and a Board of Zoning Appeals? Do you even know what zoning district you live or work in? Listen in as we discuss how zoning can be a good thing if applied correctly.
Who's on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
ResourcesForm-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America
Demolition Means Progress - by Andrew R. Highsmith
Flint, Michigan, and The Fate of The American Metropolis
The University of Chicago Press
Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty
RecordedJuly 2020
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!Smart Growth America
The University of Chicago Press
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
Tired of looking at blighted properties? In this week’s episode, we’ll be depositing our time into the discussion of Land Banks, no pun intended, well maybe a little. A County Land Bank in the State of Ohio is a useful program, that establishes a private, non-profit corporation through the power of your local government, to fight vacant & blighted properties and return them to productive use in your communities. We’ll discuss how one is established, how it can be funded, and explain to you that the reason your community may not have one is that your government doesn’t want one and not because they can’t have one.
Who's on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
ResourcesWestern Reserve Land Conservancy
A Lank Bank Playbook by Western Reserve Land Conservancy
List & Map of Ohio County Land Banks
Washington County, Ohio Auditor Website
List of Delinquent Taxpayers List in Washington County, Ohio
RecordedJune 2020
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!Western Reserve Land Conservancy
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes & Spotify!
In this episode, we’ll explore D.O.R.A, Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas. Did you know that in the State of Ohio, a DORA can be established to create an environment where you can walk in a particular area (your downtown possibly?) with a drink in your hand? Listen as we discuss what a DORA is, how a city can get one, and what the pros and cons.
Who's on it?Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
ResourcesState of Ohio Revised Code - Chapter 4301.82: Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4301.82
A great example of a current D.O.R.A!
http://www.delawareohio.net/exploring-the-dora/
RecordedJune 2020
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes & Spotify!
This episode is a quick little intro on why we decided to create My Town Hustle. You’ll get to know a little about all of our hosts along with some statistical background of the community we live and work in.
Who’s on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin
Resourceshttps://www.mariettaoh.net/
https://www.washingtongov.org/
https://www.mariettamainstreet.org/
RecordedJune 2020
Questions?Email us at support@mytownhustle.com
Shout out!As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify